reader. writer.

What is working

This is a follow-up to the strategy I mentioned last week. Don’t let a strategy that could work, such as “Do it now/do it first” lead to self-criticism. Doing something first thing can make a hard task easier. But we are organic beings, and life embraces complexity. For 1,001 reasons, you may not do something exactly how or when you meant to do it. So my follow-up strategy is this—trust yourself to return to the work. 

This is helping me resist the feeling of failure that arises not because I didn’t do something (I get to it one way or another!), but because I didn’t do it the way I thought I should.

What I’m reading

In the book Among Others, the protagonist mentioned Ursula Le Guin’s The Dispossessed, including the concept of ansibles which reminded me of the tech I assume to be possible in my SF series. So I read the book, unsure what to expect. When I began, it felt like a dated conceptualization of the future, plus I had trouble connecting to the protagonist. I persevered, and by the end, I felt that Le Guin had been incredibly insightful and that so many of the tensions and philosophical concerns were highly relevant to today. Plus the closing was so moving.

What I’m writing

I continue slow and steady revisions focused on specific characters. I’m always pleasantly surprised that as I engage in what I assume will be superficial editing, deeper insights still arise. 

Democracy, yes, please

OMG. A disastrous vote juxtaposed with a tour of a concentration camp in the Everglades–I had to sit with the grief I felt at the prospect of even more human suffering. Even worse is knowing it is intentional, not some unfortunate unexpected consequence. Deliberate harm is the goal. My capacity to believe everyone has some redeeming quality was sorely tested, but I will spare you the dark and bitter thoughts that arose.

Today is a little better. I made calls (again) and again found that taking action, any positive and tangible action, serves as an antidote. The people committed to cruelty and harm may never recover their humanity, but I refuse to give up my own. I will continue to push for something kinder, more just, more humane, and always more democratic. I will make good trouble.

A quote I liked:

“True journey is return.” 

From Ursula Le Guin’s The Dispossessed